Mouse Physiology
The estimates below are based on information in the book: Biology of the Laboratory Mouse, The Staff of The Jackson Laboratory, E. Green, ed. 1966. Dover Publications, New York.
Note: Strain variation can affect these values significantly.
General
Body Weight: average ~20 g; highly variable
Body Temperature: ~36.9 C
Lifespan: 1.3 - 3 years; highly variable
Reproduction
Sexual Maturity: after ~4 weeks of age; highly variable
Oestrus Cycle Frequency: every ~4-5 days
Gestation: Average 19-21 days
Litter Size: usually 1-10 pups - highly variable due
to genetic and environmental factors; tends to increase for the first
few litters, then decrease with age
Reproductive Lifespan of a Female: approaches 2 years
in some strains
Lactation: duration ~4 weeks
Circulation
Blood Volume: ~5.5 ml per 100 g body weight
Heart Rate: Adult: 632 +/- 51.3 beats per minute; Newborn:
286 +/- 56.8 beats per minute
Respiration
Respiratory Rate: ~163 per minute
Urinary Tract
Average Urine Output: ~1.6 ml per 24 hr
Average Water Intake: ~ 5 ml per 24 hr
|
||
| Back to The
Mouse in Science
To go to another section click on one of the links below: The Mouse in Science |
